The question took aback Aaron. "Why? Is checking taxes now a lawyer's responsibility?"
Jacob looked more serious. "It's everyone's responsibility!"
Feeling intimidated by the imposing aura of the prominent lawyer, Aaron stood stiffly and didn't dare say another word.
Abigail couldn't help but chuckle and gave Aaron a subtle look.
Aaron cleared his throat and said, "Uh... Mr. Welsh, please rest assured. I've always been a law-abiding artist."
"Is that so?" Jacob squinted. "You're still single, right? Do you have any rumored girlfriends? I hope there won't be any cheating scandals that implicate Abigail one day?"
"Mr. Welsh, what are you talking about?" Aaron winced, sweat forming on his forehead.
Jacob's voice turned stern. "I'm saying, watch out!"
He cleared his throat and stood closer to Abigail to physically block her. His expression was wary and hostile.
Abigail's heart thumped. She could smell Jacob's aftershave from being so close to him. Looking at his pressed suit jacket, she imagined a future where she could put the jacket on him, pass him his briefcase, and send him off every morning...
She couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes filled with him and her anticipation for the future.
"Mr. Welsh, I don't quite understand what you mean..." Aaron grimaced. "I..."
"I mean, I'm Ms. Fox's personal lawyer!" Jacob emphasized the word "personal". "If you dare to do anything illegal or improper, you should stay away from Ms. Fox. Otherwise, I'll ensure you end up behind bars!"
"Uh, I..." Even Aaron, slow on the uptake, understood the situation now. He forced a smile and turned to hurriedly disappear into the crowd.
Jacob watched in the direction he left, standing righteously like Abigail's guardian.
Abigail looked at him and couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a wave of sweetness.
"I'm going to offer a toast to Zuko!" Jacob scratched his head with a chuckle and quickly disappeared into the crowd of guests.
Abigail's gaze dimmed slightly, her eyebrows lightly furrowing. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't understand.
Did he come between her and Aaron with so much concern because he was jealous, or was he truly fulfilling his duty as a lawyer to check taxes?
He referred to himself as her personal lawyer, but did he really mean it, or was he just saying it for Aaron's sake?
Abigail couldn't figure it out.
Abigail lowered her head and returned to her original spot, away from the crowd. She picked up her plate and forcefully poked at the small cake with her fork.
Aaron passed by in front of her again. Unlike before, he didn't even acknowledge her presence this time.
"Hey..." Abigail was about to call out to him, but he simply drifted away as if he hadn't seen her.
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